11/14/14

Georgia's push to produce 250,000 more college graduates – that's above and beyond current graduation levels – by the year 2020 stems from a recent projection that more than 60 percent of jobs in Georgia will require a college certificate, associate's or bachelor's degree. Currently, only 42 percent of young adults in the state are prepared. Complete College Georgia (CCG) is the program Gov. Nathan Deal announced in 2011 to help the state achieve that goal.
One component of CCG is REACH, a needs-based scholarship program that targets middle schoolers. “When they're in middle school, they sign a contract to maintain a certain grade point average, to remain crime-, drug- and behavior issue-free, and meet with a volunteer mentor until they graduate...

11/11/14

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) State of the Region Address brought transportation back to the forefront of local issues with the results of a new survey that showed support for transit in all 10 Metro Atlanta counties.
According to the region-wide poll, 92 percent of those surveyed favor improving public transit across the region, up from 88 percent in 2013. Transit displaced the economy as residents’ biggest concern. Respondents are more upbeat about the economy, with 43 percent rating job opportunities excellent or good, up from 36 percent last year. While only 1 percent of the region is considered walkable, a walkable area is the most coveted place to live, according to the survey. Also, arts and culture emerged as factors equally as vital as transportation...

11/07/14

The election Tuesday sent a clear signal that Georgia is still a red state, echoing broad cross-country sentiment tied to global crises and our nation's seeming inability to handle them. It reminded me of the 1994 midterms when President Bill Clinton saw both the House and Senate go red. You can't blame politicians for playing against a president in the midterms; however, it's a populist ploy that perpetuates partisanship.
I hope the GOP can become more united and less extremist in its governing with control of both chambers, for the sake of the business community at least. I expect more gridlock with the president but less far-right pandering. I seem to remember the Clinton era as prosperous in spite of the whole Monica-gate GOP obsession that...

11/04/14

It's Election Day – the day we get to exercise our rights as Americans and vote for our preferred state and national leaders. Take advantage of the freedom to express your opinion through the voting process as our government transitions the way it has for more than two centuries – peacefully and with the participation of our citizens.
Check back to tomorrow. We'll have a list of winners as well as those who are headed for a runoff. The date for a general election runoff for state and local races is Dec. 2. For federal races, it’s Jan. 6, 2015.
Candidates for some of the high-profile and statewide elections are listed below with links to their websites. Learn more, then get out and vote! – Karen Kirkpatrick
U.S. Senator
Michelle...